We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Plastic waste as a challenge for sustainable development and circularity in the European Union
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the plastic waste crisis in the European Union, evaluating gaps between recycling policy ambitions and actual outcomes. It argues that without major improvements in waste management infrastructure and circular economy practices, plastics will continue to fragment into microplastics and contaminate European ecosystems.
Motivation: Plastics are valuable materials covering a wide range of applications in everyday life and have the potential to be recycled many times while retaining their value and functional properties. However, the scale of the problem associated with improper management of plastic waste in the EU is enormous, which entails economic costs (the potential associated with the recycling of plastic waste remains largely unexploited) and irreversible losses for the environment. Solving the problems of plastic waste becomes the strategic goal of the EU, which takes action to support transition towards a circular economy and adopts first-ever Europe-wide strategy on plastics. These issues are current and important.Aim: The aim of the article is to assess the previous efficiency of plastic waste management in the EU countries which, so far, results from the implementation of national policies. The Strategy for Plastic waste will be also discussed as a response to contemporary challenges and as an element of achieving the goals of sustainable development and circular economy.Results: In the last years, the efficiency of plastic waste management have improved but still a huge share of plastic is wasted. The challenge is to increase recycling rates and to change unfavorable structure of plastic waste reuse: at this time energy recovery rate (41.6%) is still higher than the recycling rate (31.1%), and the recycling rate only slightly exceeds the landfill rate (27.3%). The second problem concerns single-use plastic packaging which accounts for about 60.0% of the plastic waste in the EU. Adopting first ever European plastics strategy, the EU addresses environmental problems and solutions to help the transition to a CE. The goals are ambitious but realistic to meet in the coming years. They can bring a real change but at the same time this is just the beginning of the process.
More Papers Like This
Plastic Waste in Romania: Between European Union Commitments and Actual Realities
AI summary Read the abstract
This systematic review examines Romania's plastic waste management challenges in meeting European Union circular economy goals. It finds significant gaps between EU recycling targets and actual national performance, with issues in waste collection infrastructure and policy enforcement. The findings highlight how plastic waste mismanagement contributes to environmental pollution, including microplastic contamination of water and soil.
An Examination of Microplastics: Environmental Impact, Sustainability, and Recyclability Innovation
AI summary Read the abstract
This paper examined the environmental impact of microplastics, sustainability implications of current plastic use, and recycling options to address the plastic pollution crisis. It called for a transition toward circular economy approaches that reduce primary plastic production and increase recycled content.
Plastic circularity: Challenges, opportunities, and future pathways
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the barriers to a circular plastic economy, concluding that mechanical recycling alone is insufficient and nearing its technical limits, while advanced methods such as chemical depolymerization and dissolution recycling face high costs and market underdevelopment, requiring coordinated regulatory, design, and infrastructure changes to close the recycling gap.
Plastic Waste Recycling is Insufficient to Mitigate Plastic Pollution: the Need for a Paradigm Shift
AI summary Read the abstract
This review argues that plastic waste recycling is fundamentally insufficient to address global plastic pollution and calls for a paradigm shift away from end-of-pipe solutions toward upstream production reduction. The authors examine the structural limitations of current recycling strategies and the economic and policy barriers that prevent meaningful plastic pollution mitigation.
Ensuring sustainability in plastics use in Africa: consumption, waste generation, and projections
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines plastic consumption, waste generation, and future projections for African nations, finding rapidly increasing plastic use alongside limited waste management infrastructure. The study calls for African-specific sustainability policies to prevent a major escalation in plastic pollution as economic development accelerates across the continent.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.